The USA is one of my favourite travel destinations because of the country’s regional diversity, so much so that I’ve spent a total of three months travelling the USA, and also lived in the US for two years. While many of the best travel destinations in the USA are vibrant major cities, I’ve loved having the chance to explore the country’s cute and quirky small towns from coast to coast. The best small towns to visit in the USA include Carmel-By-The-Sea, Solvang and Sonoma in California, Hudson, Beacon and Cold Spring in the Hudson Valley and Southampton and Southold on Long Island.

Despite having visited five US states, so far I’ve only visited small towns in California and New York. I’ve started this post with my favourite Californian and upstate New York small towns that I’ve visited so far, but will keep updating as I travel around more of the USA’s small towns this year. Please leave me any tips or recommendations you have, in the comments!

Related: The Most Beautiful Places in California to Visit

Carmel-By-The-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a wealthy seaside town in Northern California, between San Francisco and Big Sur. Originally an artist community, today it’s a well-preserved but conspicuously well-heeled seaside town, that’s claim to fame includes having Hollywood actor Clint Eastwood as its former mayor. I

The town’s Romantic Spanish Revival and Arts & Crafts architecture has been meticulously preserved, giving the town a storybook quality. I visited Carmel when David & I drove the Pacific Coast Highway in 2018, and while it took what felt like an age to find a park in the height of summer, it was worth the detour. While the summer tourist crowds are less fairytale-like, it’s still one of the prettiest and most unique small towns I’ve visited in America.

Hudson

Hudson is one of the most charming small towns in the USA, and the perfect weekend trip from New York City. Hudson is the largest town in the Hudson Valley, and is known for its charming village atmosphere, farm to table restaurants and antique shops, and is a popular artists enclave. I spent a weekend in Hudson, and it was one of the best getaways we had from New York City!

Southampton

Southold

Charming Southold offers a more laidback alternative to the Hamptons. Southold is one of a handful of charming small towns scattered across the sleepy North Fork of Long Island (the Hamptons is the South Fork). Rent a room at a B&B and soak up the laidback atmosphere, fresh air and slow pace, between homestyle coffee house breakfasts and trips to the surrounding wineries. Make a reservation in advance for North Fork Table & Inn, for one of the most beautiful meals in the state of New York.

East Hampton

One of the most exclusive villages in the Hamptons, East Hampton is an idyllic summer destination and is perfect for a weekend break from New York City.

Solvang

Another quirky stop on our Pacific Coast Highway road trip, strolling around Solvang feels like you’ve left America entirely. In the late 19th century, there was an influx of Danish immigrants to the Midwest. In 1910, an enterprising and sun-seeking band of Danes decided to put brutal Midwest winters behind them, and set up a Danish colony in Southern California. In the 1940s, it was enterprising town planners who decided to honour the town’s heritage with Danish-style buildings, including a couple of windmills that loom over the town. There are more bakeries than you can poke a stick at, too.

Sonoma

Napa Valley might be America’s most famous wine region, but I’d argue that neighbouring Sonoma is more charming. Sonoma is a well-regarded wine region in it’s own right, plus it has a pretty town which is a great spot for a lunch break in between a day of wine tasting in Napa & Sonoma. The town is very small and walkable, and has a handful of great restaurants, like Della Santina’s. It’s also a short drive from one of America’s most famous restaurants, French Laundry, in Yountville.

Monterey

Once upon a time, Monterey’s claim to fame was the Monterey Aquarium and for being the setting of John Steinbeck’s novel, Cannery Row. These days, it’s better known as the wealthy seaside setting for murders, intrigue and Big Little Lies, thanks to Reese Witherspoon’s award-winning television show (which I have to add, is based on Australian author Liane Moriarty’s book of the same name!). We made a brief stop in Monterey during our Big Sur road trip, and spotting sea lions from the jetty while we stretched our legs was one of the highlights of our day.

Beacon

The Hudson Valley in Upstate New York is dotted with charming small towns that feel a world away from New York City. Beacon has both small town charm and cultural clout, with a quintessential American Main Street dotted with independently owned shops and cafes, as well as being home to modern art gallery Dia: Beacon. It’s a pleasant train ride from Grand Central Station in New York to Beacon, and makes a perfect day trip.

Read more: A Day Trip to Beacon & Cold Spring

Cold Spring

Another favourite in the Hudson Valley, Cold Spring is not far from Beacon and deliver similar small town charm, with the added bonus of a beautiful waterfront along the Hudson River. I loved whiling away an afternoon at Split Rock Books, at a long lunch at Le Bouchon and still finding time for ice cream from Moo Moo’s Creamery before hopping on a train back to the city.

What’s your favourite small town in the USA? Do you want to visit any of the towns in this post? Let me know what you think in the comments!

The Wanderbug is reader supported. This site may contain links to affiliate websites, which means when you buy through links on this site I may receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!